University of Florida Tone Def
In honor of the 2017 ICCA tournament, The A Cappella Blog pursued short interviews with competing groups to develop insights into why and how groups approach competition, and to get appropriately excited for the tremendous shows ahead of us.
What’s your group name and on what date is your group’s quarterfinal?
Tone Def A Cappella of the University of Florida. February 25, 7pm, the Phillips Center at UF.
How long has your group been around? Have you competed before?
Our group was established in 2012, so we've only been around for a few years. Despite being a novice group, we've competed in a few competitions, including ICCA, and won first place in Hispanic Heritage Month Talent Show two years running. We've competed in ICCA for the past three years and are looking forward to our fourth.
Why are you competing this year? What does your group hope to accomplish or get out of the experience?
We make it a goal to compete in ICCA every year; not only does it help unify the group towards one objective, but it is also a great learning opportunity, for both new and experienced group members. The newer members are given a chance to experience the magic of performing for a large audience in a professional setting, while the more experienced members can learn and be inspired by the creative choices made by the other groups performing.
How is your group preparing for competition?
We've done a lot of work in preparation for this time of year - working together to form a set that really shows off who we are, arranging those songs to fit our sound, and choreographing the staging to help elevate our music. Now, it's just a matter of mastering it all through our weekly rehearsals.
If you were to describe your group, or the set your group is planning for competition with just three words, what would they be?
Unpredictable, unreserved, and competitive.
You can follow Tone Def using the information below:
Our website: www.uftonedef.com
Facebook: /tdacappella
Twitter/Instagram: @tdacappella